Two Wichita State University nursing students have been awarded the Charles E. Bell Nurses Training Scholarship by Forty & Eight Voiture 58 du Wichita, Kansas — a charitable organization of military veterans.
Gabriella Kriegisch and Elisha Haws, both in their third semester of the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, each received a $500 scholarship during a special ceremony held on May 23.
The event was attended by several members of the Forty & Eight organization, including Ronald Purdie, Grande du Kansas director of nurses training; Jay Kidder, chapter representative; and Timothy Evans, national director of child welfare.
Forty & Eight was established in 1920 by U.S. veterans who served in France during World War I. Its name originates from the “40/8” markings on French boxcars used to transport 40 men or eight horses during the war. Membership in the organization is by invitation only.
Dedicated to supporting education and service, Forty & Eight is committed to advancing education for registered nurses and addressing the nursing shortage in the U.S.